Youth Against Corruption (YAC)

Premier
institute of pharmaceutical education and research in the country,
the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research
(NIPER), Mohali (Punjab) has been hijacked by vested interests,
according to Mr. Jitender Chhatter, National President, Youth Against
Corruption- a united forum of students, teachers and whistleblowers
against corruption . In a joint press conference addressed by Mr.
Chhatter and several NIPER Whistleblowers, Mr. Chatter revealed the
following facts relating to corruption at NIPER, Mohali:

Misappropriation
of crores of funds released to NIPER, Mohali led to failure of
research projects approved in national interest and harming career
interests of students due to Crores
of funds released to NIPER under 11th
and 12th
Five Year Plans were misappropriated by the NIPER Directors and
Professors leading to failure of projects approved in national
interest and also harming career interests of students.

Not
a single officials removed by Ministry despite registration of FIR
by name against several NIPER Officials: The
Officials of NIPER, Mohali against whom CBI has registered FIR No.
RCCHG2016A0005 dated 14-1-2016on
criminal charges under IPC sections 420 (Cheating); 409 (Criminal
Breach of Trust); 467 (Forgery); 471 (using as genuine a forged
record) and Section 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act (Criminal
misconduct by public servant) are:

Dr.
P.Rama Rao , Ex-Director and currently working as Dean, Central
University of Punjab, Bhatinda, Punjab

Unknown
officials of NIPER, Mohali and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

Failure
of CVC to enforce its own rule regarding immediate suspension of
officials against whom FIR is registered: Relevant
rule position in the Central Vigilance Commission Manual
(http://cvc.nic.in/vigman/chapterv.pdf) is reproduced below:

“2.
When a Government servant may be suspended.

2.1.
A Government servant may be placed under suspension when a
disciplinary proceeding against him is contemplated or is pending or
where, in the opinion of the competent authority, he has engaged
himself in activities prejudicial to the interest of the security of
the State or when
a case against him in respect of any criminal offence is under
investigation, enquiry or trial.

4.
Whistleblowers
victimized: Employees
who raised their voice were badly victimized, humiliated and removed
from service. Ministry now silent and not taking action against
Bhutani, Warraich and other Professors

List
of NIPER Whistleblowers is as below:

i.
Dr.
Nilanjan Roy, Head, Biotechnology:
Exposed large scale corruption at NIPER and uploaded copies of
documents on his blog ‘biped-against-corruption’. Service
terminated in 2012 by Dr. K.K.Bhutani and appeal in High Court
dismissed on technical grounds. Currently serving as Director,
ARIBAS, Ahmedabad and still running the blog.

ii.
Dr.
Neeraj Kumar, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutics:
Challenged illegal appointment of Registrar, Mr. PJP Singh Warraich
which was subsequently quashed by High Court. Also raised his voice
against diversion of funds. Actively exposed corruption through RTI.
Service terminated in 2013 by Dr. K.K.Bhutani. Promotion held up.
Currently
fighting his case in High Court for re-instatement.

iii.
Dr.
Parikshit Bansal, Asst. Professor (Intellectual Property Rights):
Raised
his voice against diversion of funds relating to setting up of IPR
Department at NIPER. Filed complaints to CVC against Dr. P. Rama Rao
and Dr. K.K. Bhutani and also moved High Court in 2012 for ordering
CBI inquiry into diversion of funds at NIPER, Mohali. Service
terminated in 2013 by Dr. K.K.Bhutani who submitted false and
misleading information to the NIPER Board of Governors. Appeal
for re-instatement pending before Secretary, Department of
Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers since 2013.
No action despite appeal to Mr. Ananth Kumar, Union Minister for
Chemicals and Fertilizers.

iv.
Colonel
Sanjiv Tagger, Chief Maintenance Engineer: Co-operated
with CBI in investigations and refused to tamper records. Removed
from service by Dr. Bhutani in 2015. Matter
pending in High Court.

v.
Captain
Kshitij Sharma, Chief Security Officer: Did
not ‘co-operate’ with NIPER Officials and assisted CBI. Removed
from service in 2015 by Dr. Bhutani. Matter
pending in High Court.

vi.
Mr.
Inderjit Singh, Scientist and also President, NIPER Research
Employees Welfare Association (NREWA): Raised
his voice against corruption at NIPER. Filed contempt case in High
Court for regularization of NIPER employees even after contract
abolition. Physically assaulted and mentally harassed by issue of
memos, warnings and also setting up inquiry against him based on
false charges by Dr. K.K.Bhutani. Termination from service saved on
orders of High Court, which stayed the inquiry.

vii.
Mr.
Animesh Roy, Scientist (Biotechnology): Raised
his voice against plagiarism at NIPER by his Head of Department, Dr.
Uttam Chand Banerjee. Was victimized by removal from service in 2005
without inquiry and abrupt termination of his contract. Re-instated
after 6 year battle, in 2011. Presently in service but not given
salary arrears for period during which he was without service.

Copy
of Letter Written By Dr. Parikshit Bansal To CVC on 8-3-2016

Dr.
Parikshit Bansal, M.Sc. (Biochem), Ph.D. LLB

Ex-Faculty,
(NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
(NIPER)Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and
Fertilizers, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi)

-Suspension
of Officials of NIPER, Mohali (under Ministry of Chemicals and
Fertilizers, Department of Pharmaceuticals) following CBI raid and
registration of FIR against them- (FIR
No. RCCHG2016A0005 dated 14-1-2016) on
criminal charges

Madam,

I
am an ex-faculty of NIPER, Mohali. I exposed large scale corruption
and bungling of funds at NIPER, Mohali (under Department of
Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers) and am a
complainant to the CBI, Chandigarh in this matter.

Recently,
the CBI, Chandigarh conducted a raid in NIPER, Mohali (12-3-2016) and
FIR was registered against 9 officials, including 8 from NIPER,
Mohali. A
copy of the FIR was sent to the Secretary, CVC, Satarkata Bhavan, New
Delhi for necessary action.

My
grievance is that despite registration of FIR on serious criminal
charges, they are still continuing on their job and have not been
placed under suspension. Even the CVO of NIPER, Mohali, Mr.
P.J.P.Singh Warraich has not been removed from the post, though FIR
is registered by CBI against him also.

In
strong violation of the Vigilance Rules and despite my making written
complaint to him that Prof. Saranjit Singh cannot be given charge of
Officiating Director after recent retirement of Prof. Bhutani, the
CVO in violation of the vigilance rules, has given charge of
Officiating Director to Prof. Saranjit Singh.

It
is my urgent request and prayer that appropriate orders for their
suspension be kindly issued at the earliest, so that they may be
restrained from abusing their authority and victimizing others and
also influencing investigations which will be against public
interest.

Sincerely,

Dr.
Parikshit Bansal

Mr.
Chhatter told media persons that even many Ph.D students are being
harassed by these officials, so the education and research is badly
suffering. If CVC and Ministry do not take immediate action, which
they should have taken quite ago, there will be no option left than
to start serious movement to save NIPER, Mohali. They will start
“Tiranga Yatra” from NIPER to PMO office as Hon’able PM has
told Zero tolerance and promise corruption free India.

Regards

Mr.
Jitender Chhatter,

National
President, Youth
Against Corruption Haryana State Committee Member